Delivering step free access in developments

Caroline Pidgeon: The current London Plan states:
“The application of requirement M4 (2) has particular implications for blocks of four storeys or less, where historically the London Plan has not required lifts. Boroughs should seek to ensure that dwellings accessed above or below the entrance storey in buildings of four storeys or less have step-free access.”
What steps are being taken to ensure that when such a planning condition is set by a local authority that these conditions are fully implemented?

The Mayor: Building regulations stipulate particular requirements that help support implementation in this regard. Where a planning permission is conditioned to provide dwellings as M4(2) and/or M4(3), Approved Document M in the Building Regulations states that the person carrying out the works must inform the building control body where any optional requirements apply. The building control body should then check whether the standards M4(2) and/or M4(3) set out in the planning condition are met.
The latest London Annual Monitoring Report for 2017/18 states that 73 per cent of new build dwellings are achieving M4(2) or M4(3) standards in London and this is expected to increase further for 2018/19.

Commission for Diversity in the Public Realm (5)

Peter Whittle: In your press release of 28 July 2020 you state: ‘The Mayor is creating the Commission for Diversity in the Public Realm to help ensure London’s achievements and diversity are suitably reflected. Statues, plaques and street names largely reflect Victorian Britain…’ As a statement of fact, it is demonstrably untrue that London’s statues, plaques and street names largely reflect Victorian Britain, a period of only 60 years. London has a well-documented commemorative and location-naming timeline of at least a thousand years, which also stretches long beyond the Victorian era. Why would you suggest otherwise?

The Mayor: When I commissioned the statue of Millicent Fawcett in 2018, less than 3 per cent of statues in the UK were of non-royal, named women. London is one of the most diverse cities in the world and our public realm should reflect the true diversity and make-up of our city. The Commission for Diversity in the Public Realm will engage Londoners to further the discussion into inclusion and representation in the public realm.
Commissioning of statues, monuments and civic spaces of course stretches beyond the Victorian era, however this period significantly shaped the enduring public realm we see today. It was known as the Golden Age of British Sculpture, due to advances in technology and design, keen patronage and new opportunities for artists and crafts people. This included the completion of major museums and celebrated civic spaces, such as the Natural History Museum, Parliament and Trafalgar Square.

Commission for Diversity in the Public Realm (4)

Peter Whittle: Your press release of 28 July 2020, announces the formation of a ‘Commission for Diversity in the Public Realm.’ What do you understand to be the meaning of the term ‘public realm’ - most specifically in the context of private property, non-public spaces and government-owned land?

The Mayor: The Commission is working to the definition of Public Realmasoutlined in London Plan Policy D8.
Here, ‘the public realm includes all thepublicly accessiblespace between buildings, whether public or privately owned, from alleyways and streets to squares and open spaces, including the Thames and London’s waterways. Some internal or elevated spaces can also be considered as part of the public realm, such as markets, shopping malls, sky gardens, viewing platforms, museums or station concourses.‘

Remote Learning (1)

Tony Devenish: What specifically are you doing to prevent the drift to remote learning becoming the norm in many schools and FE colleges? Do you agree this risks digital poverty impacting Londoners?

The Mayor: Digital poverty is a real concern for many of London’s learners. Our recent rapid evidence review on ‘Inequalities in relation to COVID-19 and their effects on London’, included a recommendation to take measures to limit digital exclusion. As infection rates rise in London, students are at risk of returning to home learning without access to digital devices. Further extended periods away from school and college will widen the attainment gap between the most and least disadvantaged.
To help address this, I invested over £17m to fund improvements in capacity and digital infrastructure for London’s FE providers; such as purchasing laptops for learners and I am ensuring the London Recovery Board’s Digital Access for All mission has an education focus. Currently, FE colleges and schools, like universities, remain open in a COVID-secure way and I am working with London’s providers to ensure, Londoners are confident that they can return to on-site learning environments as much as possible.

Remote Learning (2)

Tony Devenish: How effective have London’s Adult Education courses been at embracing remote learning?

The Mayor: London’s adult education providers have made a good response to the Covid-19 pandemic with significant efforts to ensure that a greater proportion of online and remote learning is available.
The overall percentage of online delivery has increased across the capital. Initiatives such as ‘Keep London Learning’ are good examples of how adult education providers are responding to the need for continuing engagement of residents at this difficult time.
In the summer, I provided additional funds under the Covid-19 AEB Response Fund to support learning providers to build capacity to meet the challenge of additional online and remote learning. However, it is critical that providers reach out to those who are hardest to engage because of digital access issues, and I will continue to explore with providers how best to support further developments in remote learning.

Adult Education and Career Changes

Tony Devenish: What support have you given to London’s Adult Education sector in ensuring that those seeking a change of career have had options during lockdown?

The Mayor: Through the Adult Education Budget (AEB), I have taken a number of actions to support London’s adult education sector to help those Londonersmost at risk of losing their jobsto retrain and re/upskill to access new employment opportunities.
I have made all ‘level 3’ qualifications lasting for a year or less free for any adult Londoner unemployed or earning below the London Living Wage. I launched an £11m COVID-19 Response Fund to help AEB providers expand their online provision and build capacity to reach more learners. I have also allowed AEB providers to use their allocations more flexibly to run targeted pre-employment and job-focused training to support those hit hardest by the pandemic.
I am now looking at what further changes I can make to the AEB for the next academic year to ensure education and training providers are equipped to deliver education, training, and employability support that will enable Londoners to gain relevant skills to move into good work in sectors key to London’s recovery.

Skills for Londoners Framework Consultation

Leonie Cooper: What are the key messages which you have taken from the October 2020 Skills for Londoners Framework Consultation?

The Mayor: On the Adult Education Budget (AEB), respondents highlighted the importance of giving providers greater flexibility to deliver tailored, job-focused training to those Londoners at risk of losing their jobs. I have already responded to this by allowing AEB providers to use their allocations more flexibly to deliver targeted support, particularly for those hit hardest by COVID-19.
On the challenges posed by the pandemic on future skills provision, a number of important issues emerged including: prioritising key sectors such as health and social care, digital, and the green economy; developing capacity for more online learning; and improving partnership working with providers, businesses, and civil society organisations.
I have already made £11m of AEB funding available to support providers to expand their online provision and build capacity. I am now looking at how the AEB can align with the London Recovery missions byprioritising education, training, and employability support for Londoners most affected by the pandemic to gain relevant skills to move into good work in sectors key to London’s recovery.

Strangways Terrace, Hammersmith & Fulham

Tony Devenish: In view of your strategic planning role, what advice would you give a London borough such as Hammersmith & Fulham , which appears to have a conflict of interest between granting planning permission on an illuminated advertising tower and the revenue they are profiting from? They may also be in breach of their own planning conditions, such as the brightness of the lighting.

The Mayor: Local Planning Authorities are responsible for the operation of the advertisement control system in their administrative area and for deciding whether a particular advertisement should be permitted or not. Applications for advertisement consent are not referable to the Mayor. If advertisement consent is required in considering whether to approve the application, Hammersmith & Fulham can only consider two issues. They are described in the advertisement regulations as interests of amenity and public safety. The terms are not legally defined so each Local Planning authority must interpret what is meant by these expressions as they apply in a particular case.

Air quality at schools and school greening (2)

Leonie Cooper: What monitoring and assessment has been made of the effectiveness of these greening projects in improving air quality?

The Mayor: I have implemented a wide range of successful measures to improve air quality across the capital. The most effective are those that address toxic emissions at source, like the Ultra Low Emission Zone. However, there is increasingly strong evidence that appropriate greening measures, used in the right place, can reduce people’s exposure to air pollution at a local scale.
An overall evaluation of the audit programme will take place once the programme is complete but as implementation of the audit action plans is ongoing so an overall assessment is not yet possible. However, studies, for example at Bowes Primary School in Enfield, have found that vegetation barriers installed around a school playground, can reduce levels of air pollutants just behind the barrier by nearly a quarter. Monitoring carried out by schools funded by my Greener City Fund, such as Goose Green School in Southwark, supports this evidence.
Further evidence and advice on using greening to reduce exposure to air pollution, has been published in guidance available on my website at: https://www.london.gov.uk/sites/default/files/green_infrastruture_air_pollution_may_19.pdf

Energy and carbon reduction programmes for housing retrofit

Caroline Russell: During a London Assembly Environment Committee meeting on 6 December 2018, investigating cold and damp homes in London, members requested an explanation for why the amount of money allocated for energy and carbon reduction programmes in 2020-21, 2021-22 and 2022-23 is reducing. This request was sent on to the RE:NEW team in 2019, and was followed up repeatedly but has not been answered. Will you now supply a response?

The Mayor: I apologise that an answer to the enquiry was not sent. At the London Assembly Environment Committee meeting in December 2018, certain programmes were coming to an end, with proposed extensions or replacements still being finalised (e.g. Warmer Homes Phase 2). These will have affected the budget profile as circumstances changed.
The budget for energy and carbon reduction programmes covered four financial years (2017/18, 2018/19, 2019/20, 2020/21) and the profile of that expenditure was largely determined by programme activity i.e. if activity was not as originally budgeted the budget would be reprofiled to reflect new plans. However, while budget profiles may be uneven across the four-year term, both my Accelerators (formally RE:FIT and RE:NEW), and Warmer Homes had a consistent level of funding across all years, and the London Community Energy Fund increased over that period (also spending its full budget).
Some programme budgets for 2021/22 and 2022-23 are subject to the current budget setting process.

COVID 19 (2)

Murad Qureshi: What measures can be taken to stop the death of the 24-hour economy in the post-COVID-19 world?

The Mayor: Government’s 10pm curfew has inflicted serious harm on the night time economy. It has also increased the risk of the virus spreading by forcing crowds onto streets and public transport at the same time. Government must cancel the curfew immediately, or businesses will fail to survive this crisis.
To support the 24-hour economy, my teams are publishing new research, data and guidance. These will help local authorities create ambitious night time strategies, accelerating the recovery of London’s high streets and making them more resilient for the future.
My Night Time Enterprise Zone pilot in Walthamstow showed that extending high street opening hours boosts local businesses and benefits the local community, giving them better access to the shops and services they need. The role of tourism is also vital as it is expected to account for five times more lost spend in central London than office workers. Government must get the virus under control with a fully functioning test and trace system, so visitors can return safely.

COVID 19 (1)

Murad Qureshi: Will the post-COVID-19 world be the death of the 24-hour economy in Central London?

The Mayor: Central London matters to the UK economy. The output of London’s Central Activities Zone (CAZ) was £228bn in 2017 - nearly 53 per cent of London’s, and 13 per cent of the UK’s, output. But it has been devastated by the impact of COVID-19, particularly its hospitality and culture sectors. Before the Tier System was introduced, footfall was down nearly 60 per cent year-on-year, making it the worst impacted area in the UK.
Throughout the pandemic, London’s businesses and local authorities have proven their ability to innovate and adapt. This entrepreneurial spirit will play a key role in achieving a strong recovery. I am confident that central London’s world-class 24-hour economy can thrive after the pandemic - but only with the right government support.
The return of tourism is also vital - expected to account for £10.9bn lost spend in the CAZ this year, compared to £1.9bn lost commuter spend. The Government must get the virus under control with a fully functioning test and trace system, so visitors and workers can return safely.

Adult Education budgets in London 2019/2020

Murad Qureshi: Can you please give us the figures for the whole of the Adult Education Budget in London and which institutes and programmes got most of the allocations during 2019/2020 and 2020/2021?

The Mayor: The overall London allocation from the Department for Education (DfE) for the 2019/20 Academic Year was £306,444,875 which was split across 2019/20 and 2020/21 financial years.
2020/21 Academic Year allocation is £318,580,139 which covers part 2020/21 and 2021/22 financial years. An additional £12,943,836 of AEB was received from DfE to fund delivery of high value courses and sector-based work academies in 2020/21.
Institution level allocations are included in a separately attached spreadsheet and are accurate as of 16 November 2020.

COVID 19 (3)

Murad Qureshi: In light of the importance of licensing in the 24-hour economy in London, will you be making representations to Westminster Council in their present consultation of their licensing policies after you told them to scrap plans to charge for pavement space?

The Mayor: Prior to COVID-19, hospitality and culture businesses were growing faster than the rest of the economy. They remain key drivers for the high street regeneration London needs to recover, but the impact of the pandemic on them has been devastating. For our high streets to thrive again, at all times of day, we must help businesses to start up, adapt and innovate.
My Night Czar has responded to Westminster City Council’s licensing policy consultation. I welcome Westminster’s innovative work to create outdoor ‘streateries’, and I am pleased the cost to businesses will be kept low. Across London, 19 local authorities are due to review their licensing policies in the coming year. They have an opportunity to put new policies in place that support economic recovery and help those hard-hit businesses that will drive economic recovery. My Night Czar will continue to work with local authorities to support them in their reviews.

London Power for all Londoners (2)

Andrew Dismore: Some Londoners, including some of my constituents, are being left ‘energy prisoners’ by the power companies. One has explained that the meter system in his rented accommodation stops him from changing provider or accessing cheaper tariffs. How many London households are excluded from access to London Power because their home has an older metering system or for another reason?

The Mayor: As described in my response to Mayor's Question 2020/3942, London Power offers a range of different tariff types for different meters to avoid any Londoner being excluded. No customer should be excluded from London Power based on their meter type. Even those with district heating should still be able to switch to London Power for their electricity. If your constituent believes their meter type is preventing them from switching, we would be happy to discuss this with them. There are a small number of other reasons where a household may not be able to switch supplier due to industry regulations, for example if they have over £500 debt on a prepayment account their previous supplier can prevent a switch.

Use of Food Banks by BAME Londoners

Caroline Pidgeon: Data recently released shows that 9% of BAME Londoners used food banks in July 2020 compared with just 1% of White Londoners. Do you share my concerns around the particular and disproportionate economic impact of the pandemic on BAME Londoners, and how are you working to address this?

The Mayor: The rise in food insecurity throughout the pandemic illustrates its profound impact on the economy and household income. This has not affected Londoners in the same way - but exposed and deepened inequalities, such as poverty rates which were already much higher for Londoners from BAME communities, compared to White Londoners. We also know that Londoners from BAME communities are more likely to work in low-paid, insecure jobs, many of which have disappeared as a result of this crisis.
As well as actions to address the immediate disproportionate impact on BAME people, such as contributing to the £42 million London Community Response Fund, where almost half of grants made have gone to BAME-led organisations, I am leading long-term work to tackle the structural inequalities that drove this disproportionate impact. This includes workforce programmes increasing the representation of young Black men and the launch of the Good Work Standard setting a benchmark for employers to improve diversity within their workforces. Tackling these inequalities will be at the heart of our work on London’s recovery from Covid-19.

Rising Youth Unemployment

Caroline Pidgeon: Recent data has shown that youth unemployment has risen by a staggering 200% since the start of the year in London, significantly higher than the increase seen nationally. This has largely been attributed to the impact of the pandemic on sectors such as the events and creative industries, as well as hospitality, that have suffered massive falls in revenue because of COVID-19. How will you be working to ensure young people and the creative industries are at the heart of London’s recovery from COVID-19?

The Mayor: I am very concerned by the growing number of young Londoners who are unemployed. The youth unemployment rate (16-24 year olds) has almost doubled since February 2020 to 25%, far higher than the national rate of 16% (Labour Force Survey). This is partly due to the uneven impact of Covid-19 on sectors like hospitality and distribution, where a third of young Londoners work.
Young people are a priority for the London Recovery Board’s work. This will give young Londoners access to a personal mentor and build on existing programmes. These include the recently launched Creative Enterprise Zones to create job opportunities for young BAME Londoners, my Young Londoners Fund where a further £2.1m announced in August will help 15,000 more young Londoners boost their skills and an extra £1.9m of Adult Education Budget (AEB) funding made available, on top of £12.9m additional AEB, for courses with high labour market value.

Public toilets

Nicky Gavron: Will you ensure that public toilets are open and clean during any future waves of the Covid-19 pandemic?

The Mayor: Public toilets are a vital facility, helping to create an inclusive city where people have the confidence to move around with comfort and dignity.
The High Street Coordination Group - a pan-London working group of GLA, MOPAC, London Councils, BIDs, businesses and retailers - has helped to improve access to public toilets across London during the pandemic, including: getting Royal Parks toilets open; working with TfL to open as many toilets across their estate; updating the free Lockdown Loos website with dozens of public toilets; encouraging local authorities to re-open public toilets wherever possible.
Whilst I will always do what I can to keep facilities open, responsibility for the provision and management of many toilet facilities falls under the remit of the agencies responsible for the spaces where they feature and therefore are outside my control.

Universal Basic Income (2)

Caroline Pidgeon: Will you commit to working with Government and London Boroughs to trial the use of a Universal Basic Income in some or all parts of London?

The Mayor: As I made clear in my answer to your previous question (Mayor's Question 2020/3820) the coronavirus pandemic has given us a unique opportunity to fundamentally rethink how we protect people from financial hardship. I would welcome the opportunity to work with Government and London Boroughs to explore the viability of any new or alternative approaches, including Universal Basic Income.

Universal Basic Income (1)

Caroline Pidgeon: Given that the economic impact of the pandemic is pushing more Londoners into financial uncertainty, will you join me and others in calling for the implementation of a Universal Basic Income that gives all residents a measure of economic security and avoids putting people in impossible situations where they are having to make choices between protecting their lives or their livelihoods?

The Mayor: Prior to the pandemic I had consistently called on Government to overhaul the welfare system. Far from being a tool to protect people from financial hardship, it was instead pushing thousands of Londoners into poverty following a decade of cuts and ill-conceived reforms.
While Universal Credit still falls short of what is required to meet the cost of living in London, the temporary increases introduced in response to the pandemic have highlighted that effective action to support living standards can be taken through the existing welfare system. Furthermore, significant interventions introduced during the crisis, like the furlough scheme, have demonstrated the potential for innovative thinking to protect incomes when there is a genuine commitment to do so.
As we bring our collective effort to build back better from the pandemic, we should remain open-minded to all options for protecting against financial hardship, including Universal Basic Income.

Support for London’s LGBTQ+ Venues

Caroline Pidgeon: There are concerns over the future of some of London’s most iconic LGBTQ+ venues, which are a hugely important to London. I am sure you agree that it would be terrible, both economically and socially, if many of these venues were to permanently close.
What specific work are you and the Night Czar doing to support the capital’s LGBTQ+ venues, which do not only contribute significantly to London’s economy, but are a significant part of the capital’s rich cultural history?

The Mayor: The pandemic has had a significant impact on LGBTQ+ venues, which play a vital role in supporting the community, acting as a safe haven where people feel comfortable and free to be who they are. My £2.3m Culture at Risk Business Support Fund has so far provided £128,500 worth of grants to 11 LGBTQ+ venues hit hardest by Covid-19.
My Culture at Risk Office has supported over 660 cases during the pandemic, which includes helping secure the future of LGBTQ+ venues. I’ve published protections for venues in the draft London Plan, and I created the LGBTQ+ Venues Charter to help safeguard existing LGBTQ+ nightlife and encourage the opening of new venues. I also seed funded the LGBTQ+ Venues Forum, which brings together an independent collective voice for venues across London.
My Night Czar and I remain committed to doing everything we can to protect the capital’s LGBTQ+ nightlife, which will play an important role in our economic and social recovery.

Support for London’s Nightclubs

Caroline Pidgeon: With only a handful of nightclubs in London receiving Culture Recovery Funding, leading industry figures have warned it risks being decimated, which will lead to thousands more job losses in London and mark a huge blow to our economy.
How are you working with London’s nightclubs to get them the support they need, both during the second lockdown and afterwards, with the possibility they may have to continue to remain closed for a significantly longer period of time than many other venues?

The Mayor: London’s nightclubs have been forced to remain closed since the pandemic in March. Following lobbying from City Hall, I was pleased that nightclubs were made eligible for Government’s Culture Recovery Fund, recognising the value nightclubs and the club scene play in our cultural life. But as you say, many have still missed out, and Government should ensure nightclubs continue to benefit from any remaining funding from the Culture Recovery Fund.
My Night Czar is working with industry, Government and Public Health England to create a roadmap for the safe reopening of nightclubs as soon as is possible. But until they can reopen, I support calls from sector organisations, such as the Night Time Industries Association, that Government must provide adequate financial support to make sure nightclubs survive through closure and that jobs are protected.
My Culture at Risk Office is available to support nightclubs who need guidance and advice.

Apprenticeships

Jennette Arnold: Research published by Cognassist shows that in London 44% of apprentices are entitled to additional support for various disabilities and needs, yet 33% aren’t having it requested by their employers, training providers or end-point assessors. What are you doing to ensure apprentices in London are supported fully?

The Mayor: Responsibility for apprenticeships lies with Central Government and clearly more needs to be done to communicate the additional support available to employers and training providers so that apprentices with additional needs are supported throughout their apprenticeship. I have lobbied the government for the powers and funding to establish a London Apprenticeship Service so that support can be targeted at Londoners most in need.
Since taking control of the Adult Education Budget (AEB), I have made changes to ensure that skills training is more inclusive for Disabled Londoners. This includes extending full funding of AEB courses to Londoners earning below the London Living Wage as we know Disabled Londoners are overrepresented in low paid occupations and fully funding Deaf Londoners to train for a first qualification in British Sign Language.
I have also given London’s further education providers greater flexibility to train their staff to better support learners with SEND.
Furthermore, my ‘helping Londoners into Good Work’ recovery mission is focussed on supporting Londoners hardest hit by the pandemic, including Londoners with the most complex needs to ensure that they are not left behind.

Redundancies and freelancers during coronavirus

Caroline Russell: In July the government announced £1.5 billion in funding for the arts and creative sector. I have now heard from several creative freelancers that they and many of their colleagues have been made redundant and that, even though the funding has started to come through for organisations, it is going on building management and senior salaries. Will you lobby the government for increased funding for our vital creative and arts sector workers?

The Mayor: Creative freelancers have been devastated by COVID-19, with over 60 per cent losing 100 per cent of their work. And they have been left behind by Government, with many excluded from the Self-Employed Income Support Scheme.
I welcomed the announcement of the Culture Recovery Fund and have been pleased to see many London organisations benefit. But it does not go far enough to protect the estimated 152,500 jobs – many of which are freelance – which could be lost in London due to COVID-19.
I have written to Government outlining my concerns. I have funded research, with Creative Industries Federation, to outline the risk to freelancers, and am funding research by Centre for London to make recommendations on supporting them. Future rounds of public funding must do more to support creative workers and freelancers and I will continue to lobby Government to make this happen.

Interests - Culture at Risk Fund

Andrew Boff: What interests were declared by GLA employees in relation to awards from the Culture at Risk Fund?

The Mayor: My £2.3 million Culture at Risk Business Support Fund is providing emergency assistance to sustain cultural and creative venues most at risk of falling into administration due to COVID-19, many of whom were unable to benefit from Government schemes or funding from Arts Council England.
The Fund is being distributed by three organisations: Music Venue Trust working with LGBTQ+ Venues Forum; the Creative Land Trust; and the British Film Institute.
Each partner established robust assessment processes, including declarations of interest for all panel members, in line with Charity Commission guidance. No GLA officers played a role in the decision-making processes by which funds were awarded. Where an officer observed a panel, in the case of the artist workspaces fund managed by the Creative Land Trust, a Declarations of Interest form was completed. No conflicts of interest were declared.

Commission for Diversity in the Public Realm (2)

Peter Whittle: Further to that same guidance from Historic England, can the Mayor confirm that he would follow it and not support the removal of the statues of Thomas Guy and Sir Robert Clayton from Guy’s and St Thomas’s Hospitals?

The Mayor: It is right that issues such as this be part of a wider conversation about the complicated histories of our past. This is why I have establishedthe Commission for Diversity in the Public Realm and its Partners Board, of which Historic England is a member.
Guy's & St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust, and Guy's & St Thomas' Charity are consulting with London’s communities on the future of two statues. It has also commissioned a detailed historical account of the lives of Thomas Guy and Sir Robert Clayton and the circumstances of the statues themselves. I support Historic England’s recommendation to extend the planning application period so that the outcomes of these exercises can inform the decision. Historic England has noted this as an exemplary approach and will continue to work closely with the Charity.

Commission for Diversity in the Public Realm (3)

Peter Whittle: Given the Government’s plans to give the Secretary of State for Housing the final say on planning applications relating to statues, due to their national significance, does the Mayor recognise that public statues in the capital have a national significance and agree that their future is not entirely a matter for local/devolved government?

The Mayor: It is clear that many public statues in London have a national significance. Equally, many of these statues convey only part of our nation’s story. It is an uncomfortable truth, for example, that some of those commemorated owe their wealth and achievements to their part in the slave trade, yet this is rarely apparent in what we see and learn about them.
It is also clear that there are many nationally important figures, particularly women, people from Black, Asian and minority ethnic backgrounds, the LGBTQ+ community, disability groups who are not represented in the public realm in London, or anywhere in the country. It is therefore a matter for all of us.

Borough recycling and reduction plans

Leonie Cooper: Please provide an update on the number of London boroughs who have submitted recycling and reduction plans? How many have set zero waste targets?

The Mayor: All 32 London boroughs plus the City of London have submitted Reduction and Recycling Plans (RRPs).
My London Environment Strategy sets out my aim that London will be a zero waste city - a city that makes best use of all its waste where market opportunities exist to recover value from it. This means ensuring London sends no biodegradable or recyclable waste to landfill by 2026, and by 2030 65 per cent of London’s municipal waste will be recycled.
I asked each borough to include local reduction and recycling targets that contribute to these London-wide targets in their RRPs. It is not possible for boroughs to achieve zero waste in the near term but through their RRPs they have set ambitious targets to help achieve my ambition for a zero-waste city as described above. Taken together, if implemented in full by the boroughs, the RRPs are expected to increase London’s household waste recycling rate from 33 per cent today to 40 per cent in 2022.

Tower blocks (2)

Andrew Boff: Will you require all applications for new Tower Blocks to publish a carbon rating?

The Mayor: Yes, developers of all major developments, including tower blocks, will be asked to submit a detailed energy strategy as set out in my new London Plan Policy SI2 Minimising greenhouse gas emissions. Once completed, developers will be asked to monitor, verify and report on the energy performance of their buildings. Referable applications will also have to produce a whole life-cycle carbon assessment to show the full carbon impact of proposals. In addition, all new dwellings are required to have a Domestic Energy Performance Certificate which is available to view on the government’s website.

Post-Study Work Visas in London

Shaun Bailey: What are you doing to boost the positive opportunities of post-study work visas for foreign students in London?

The Mayor: I am pleased the Government has confirmed the reintroduction of a two year post-study work visa - the Graduate Immigration Route which will launch in the summer of 2021. I have consistently made the case for this as it is an important part of international student recruitment and will make a real difference to students wishing to study in London.
In Winter 2020 London & Partners will be releasing a social media campaign highlighting the opportunities created by the Graduate Immigration Route, through its Study London arm. The campaign has been created in conjunction with university membership body London Higher, and targets prospective Indian and Chinese students with messages linking London’s excellent Higher Education offering to the prospect of working in the UK after graduation.

Commission for Diversity in the Public Realm (1)

Peter Whittle: Given that Historic England - the statutory advisor to central and local government on heritage proposals - has clearly stated its position that contested statues should not be removed, can the Mayor provide assurance that the Commission for Diversity in the Public Realm will abide by that guidance and not recommend the removal of any statues?

The Mayor: The decision on whether any statue should or should not be removed rests with the statue’s owner and the planning authority, but this must be informed by a wider conversation. Historic England has led the way in considering approaches to contestedheritage, through its ‘Immortalised’ exhibition in 2018. This includes providing additional interpretation and context, allowing for a deeper and honest exploration of our sometimes-difficult shared histories. However, one size does not fit all, and a variety of approaches will be required.
I am pleased that Historic England will support the Commission for Diversity in the Public Realm as a member of its Partners Board, which will set out best practice examples to help local councils and communities find appropriate ways to tell a broader British story. TheCommission is currently being recruited and will bring a wide range of experience to bear on its recommendations.

Affordable homes

Shaun Bailey: How many affordable homes were given planning permission each year since 2014/15?

The Mayor: Data from the London Development Database (LDD) shows the number of affordable units granted each year from 2014/15 to 2018/19 is as follows:
2014/15
2015/16
2016/17
2017/18
2018/19
Gross units approved
17,552
17,256
16,715
18,270
20,730
Net units approved
12,410
11,907
15,598
16,918
18,330
Net units are calculated by subtracting units lost (for example by demolition or conversion) from the gross units.
Data for 2019/20 will be available following the launch of the Planning London Datahub in December 2020.

Ethnicity Pay Gap

Caroline Pidgeon: The latest statistics on the ethnicity pay gap from the Office of National Statistics show that London has the largest ethnicity pay gap in the UK at 23.8%. Can you outline how you plan to address this, and will you join me in calling for the mandatory reporting of ethnicity pay gaps in a similar way to the current gender pay gap reporting, as well as tough action against discriminatory employers?

The Mayor: I fully agree with the need to put the reporting of ethnicity pay gaps on an equal footing with gender pay gaps and have previously called on the Government to make good on its commitments to introduce and enforce mandatory reporting.
Since 2017, the GLA has narrowed its ethnicity pay gap from 16% to 11%. Currently, all parts of the GLA Group publish robust action plans to tackle their pay gaps. Since 2016 representation of BAME staff in the GLA has increased to highest ever levels at 30%.
I will continue to support employers across London to adopt policies and practices to ensure all workers can thrive. As well as tracking city-wide ethnicity pay and employment gaps through my economic fairness indicators, my Good Work Standard encourages businesses to publish their ethnicity pay gap data and demonstrate their commitment to preventing discrimination. And I have recently published an employer toolkit which sets out how businesses can recruit, retain and support the progression of Black staff.

Meantime usage for commercial properties

Leonie Cooper: How are you, your Economic Development Team and the Recovery Board working with local authorities and the private sector to promote the use of meantime spaces in buildings which are temporarily vacant as a result of Covid-19?

The Mayor: As part of my ambition for high streets to adapt and diversify, the accommodation of a wider mix of uses, animating emptyshops, disused buildings and underused outdoor spaces is a top priority.
The London Recovery Board, established to develop and deliver a cross-London recovery programme, has identified support for high streets as a key focus. Working with partners across London, the programme is aiming to foster a culture of ideas, collaboration and invention to bring vacant and underused buildings into productive use; promoting local employment, including retail, protecting existing community and cultural spaces and introducing new types of businesses and civic organisations. Both ‘meanwhile’ and more permanent activities, will be a significant part of these high street recovery efforts. This will include support to London boroughs to develop ‘meanwhile’ brokerage services between the owners of empty spaces and would-be short-term tenants.
We aim to further support this by developing the capacity of local authorities and town centre partnerships to work with community groups and private sector property interests to plan for, safeguard and directly deliver a diverse, resilient and thriving mix of high street and town centre activity at all times of day and night and within easy reach of all Londoners.

Support for Businesses to Use Outdoor Spaces (1)

Leonie Cooper: What advice and guidance are you providing to local authorities to encourage permission to be granted for hospitality businesses such as cafes and restaurants to use outdoor spaces (including public pavements) when these venues can re-open again?

The Mayor: The ability to use outdoor space was a lifeline for many hospitality businesses over the summer months. It allowed them to increase income after months of closure in the first national lockdown. Continuing to operate in this way is going to be vital as during autumn and winter.
The High Street Reopening Coordination Group, which is co-chaired by my Night Czar and Deputy Mayor for Policing and Crime, promoted new pavement licences to hospitality businesses, which make it easier to operate outdoors. The group has also created guidance to support green, sustainable operation outdoors in the colder months.
To make London an attractive visitor destination we need innovative solutions like this, which can support businesses and increase the confidence of Londoners and visitors - during and post-pandemic. Successful schemes have seen local authorities work in partnership with businesses, and we continue to work with and encourage councils to take this approach.

Portacabins without planning permission

Tony Devenish: Tower Hamlets Council has failed to investigate or enforce against a business operating in portacabins without planning permission in Thames Circle. Is there anything you can to do to ensure action is taken and residents lives are no longer blighted?

The Mayor: Local Planning Authorities are responsible for taking whatever planning enforcement action may be necessary in the public interest within their administrative area. I have no planning enforcement powers. Tower Hamlets Council has the requisite powers and discretion to take enforcement action when they regard it as appropriate to do so, having regard to the policies in the local plan, my London Plan and any other material considerations.

SPG: Good Quality Homes for All Londoners

Navin Shah: SPG is a comprehensive document but is very onerous for Local Authorities. I’m concerned about the capacity of Local Authority Planning Teams to undertake design scrutiny required by the ‘design-lead approach’. Planning teams require expertise and capacity building. So, how will the GLA support them to discharge their role?

The Mayor: The design-led approach, set out in my London Plan and draft guidance is, comprehensive and provides a clear and effective process for determining sites’ suitability and capacity for development. Assessing a site’s context and determining what is an appropriate built form is not a new requirement, but the bread and butter of good planning.
The guidance, rather than being onerous, helps to standardise the process for optimising housing sites in an accessible format and provides a useful resource to ensure well-designed development of the right type, in the right places, for good quality of life for our residents.
Public consultation on the draft guidance - which is currently underway – provides the opportunity to input to the approach and I hope the boroughs will provide their views to help us make it as useful as possible.
The capacity and expertise of local planning authorities is vital and I recognise that resources are unfortunately stretched in many local planning departments. The government must help address this issue - not least in the context of some of the expectations set out in the Planning White Paper. For my part, this is why I founded Public Practice, to provide local authorities with in-house built environment experts, and made £10 million of funding available to thirty-two boroughs through the Homebuilding Capacity Fund, which will help them plan for optimal densities and embed higher quality design across new housing developments.

OPDC – Wormwood Scrubs

Navin Shah: HS2’s own research recognises the ecological importance of Wormwood Scrubs, but the HS2 proposes a scheme that would divert a sewer into the protected ‘Local Nature Reserve’ and ‘Sites of Importance for Nature Conservation’ of Wormwood Scrubs. Campaigners are seeking urgent intervention by local authorities and MPs to try and stop devastation of ecology. What is your and OPDC’s position on this issue and can you join forces to support this important cause?

The Mayor: The diversion of Braybrook Sewer into Wormwood Scrubs and the moving of utilities underground are Scheduled Works in the HS2 Act and necessary to build Old Oak Common Station.
Alternatives were considered at the time of the HS2 Act and none were deemed suitable. A Schedule 17 Application is expected next year to restore Wormwood Scrubs following the work.
The London Borough of Hammersmith & Fulham (LBHF), OPDC and HS2 are in discussions regarding an alternative route for the access road across Wormwood Scrubs to the sewer works site to reduce impact. A planning application from LBHF for this alternative is expected to be received by OPDC shortly.
I recognise the ecological importance of Wormwood Scrubs and OPDC officers are working with LBHF on a longer-term Ecological Master Plan and Conservation Management Plan. These were publicly consulted on last year and are being finalised with Wormwood Scrubs Trust and LBHF. In addition, LBHF has an agreement with HS2 to contribute £3.9m towards the proposed improvements.

Covid-19: Disproportionate Impact on BAME and Vulnerable People.

Navin Shah: How is government helping your actions to tackle inequalities and can you indicate the specific areas where government support is required to help London’s BAME communities and other vulnerable groups of people?

The Mayor: I am concerned that the Government does not fully recognise the structural inequalities which drove the disproportionate impact of the pandemic, such as living in poor quality or overcrowded housing, working in occupations and roles with greater exposure to the virus, and lower levels of financial resilience. These are all issues which particularly affect people from BAME communities.
I have put tackling these inequalities at the heart of work on London’s recovery from Covid-19. However this needs government support. Specific actions I have called for to address these issues include: suspending No Recourse to Public Funds conditions and hostile environment policies; supporting the delivery of genuinely affordable homes and implementing a two-year emergency rent freeze; and supporting incomes through changes to the welfare benefits system.
The Government should also follow the lead I have taken in investing in the London Community Response – where nearly half of grant allocations have gone to BAME-led organisations - and invest in our communities and the organisations supporting those most at risk in the pandemic.

Shopping Local

Navin Shah: What is your strategy to promote local high-street shops and businesses? What initiatives have you put in place to help to help SME sector and regenerate local shopping areas to encourage people to shop safely. Have you lobbied government for help to London Boroughs?

The Mayor: With the capital facing both a health and economic crisis, my agency, London & Partners, is running the #BecauseImALondoner campaign to restore consumer confidence, while continuing to respond to national restrictions to keep Londoners safe. I will continue to support small businesses on the high street to reopen safely through providing free access to business support advisers and webinars through the London Growth Hub, and the Covid-19 Support Hub.
I have also established Streetspace for London to maximise local journeys to high streets via walking and cycling and to facilitate a local economic recovery. A further £139m has been made available through TfL’s Liveable Neighbourhoods programme. The funding supports Local Authorities to deliver attractive, healthy, accessible and safe neighbourhoods for people. Approximately £36m of my Good Growth Fund has been allocated to high streets related projects and I have secured an additional £8m as part of the government’s Getting Building Fund to regenerate town centres and high streets across London.
As part of the work of the London Recovery Board, I am working closely with London Councils on building London’s economic and social recovery alongside a full range of stakeholders. We are lobbying collectively and individually for the support London needs in these challenging times. As part of this, I continue to ask the government to make major reforms to the business rates system.

10,000 Black Interns Programme

Tony Devenish: What specifically are you doing to back the 10,000 black interns programme in London?

The Mayor: The 10,000 Black Interns Programme is an inspiring initiative showcasing how employers can work together to tackle underrepresentation and create more opportunities for young Black talent in London. The high level of support from employers reminds us of the need and importance of this work. Whilst initially focused on the finance industry, the recent expansion of the programme to other sectors presents a real opportunity for City Hall to champion this work through our current initiatives.
My Workforce Integration Network (WIN) has been working to improve pathways to good quality work opportunities in the Construction and Technology sectors for young Black men. A number of WIN employers have already become involved in the internship initiative and we will continue to encourage more to do so. The WIN team have reached out to the Black Interns programme to explore what further support City Hall can provide, beyond encouraging employers to participate.

Glyphosate use by the GLA (2)

Caroline Russell: Thank you for your answer to my question 2020/2614. You state the use of glyphosate on the GLA estate will be phased out: “eventually.” By what date will glyphosate use be phased out?

The Mayor: I cannot give a definitive date for phasing out the use of glyphosate. As I stated in my response to MQ2614, TfL and the other functional bodies are all exploring alternatives with their respective contractors.
For example, the London Legacy Development Corporation have reduced the use of glyphosate by 30% by deploying Foamstream (a heat treatment), and aim to reduce its use even further following a review in spring/summer 2021; and the Metropolitan Police Service aim to limit its use to invasive species only by April 2023 when the grounds maintenance contract is due for renewal.
TfL (London Underground) face the biggest challenge as they need an alternative to maintain safety-critical weed-free areas within and alongside the track bed. Trials have demonstrated that an electrocide is effective in killing weeds, but the system is primarily used in an agricultural context and will need a lot more development to be able to be deployed at scale on the railway.
Having reviewed the use of glyphosate by the GLA Group, officers from my Environment Team will ensure a more systematic approach to reducing its use by work with the functional bodies to by preparing an action plan with targets and milestones.

Universal Basic Income

Leonie Cooper: What assessments have been made, if any, by the GLA of introducing Universal Basic Income in London? What learning has been examined from elsewhere?

The Mayor: To date no assessment has been made by the GLA of the possible introduction of a Universal Basic Income in London. However, significant interventions introduced during the crisis, like the furlough scheme, have demonstrated the potential for innovative thinking to protect incomes when there is a genuine commitment to do so.
As we bring our collective effort to building back better from the pandemic, we should remain open-minded to all options for protecting against financial hardship, including Universal Basic Income.

Privately owned public spaces and the draft Public London Charter (2)

Siân Berry: Your draft Public London Charter has finally been published and is out for public consultation until 15 January 2021 (https://consult.london.gov.uk/public-london-charter). Do you still intend to publish the final Public London Charter alongside the London Plan and, if not, how will new applications be judged after the London Plan is published until the Public London Charter is finalised?

The Mayor: The new London Plan Policy D8 Public realm part H requires that public access to public spaces is maximised and that rules governing spaces are minimised to those required for its safe management. Once the London Plan is published all new applications coming forward will have to accord with this policy and it already carries significant material weight. The Public London Charter provides additional detail and clarity on this policy requirement.
The Public London Charter is capable of being a material planning consideration. The weight afforded to it will depend on the status of the new London Plan. It is intended to publish the finalised Charter as soon as possible after the new London Plan is published.

Incentives for reusable products

Caroline Russell: Will the next update of guidance from the London Waste and Recycling Board (LWARB) include the offer of a reusable nappy incentive as a tool for boroughs to increase their recycling rate as recommended in the London Assembly Environment Committee report, Single-use plastic: unflushables, published in August 2018?

The Mayor: London produces too much waste and our recycling rates need to increase significantly. To tackle this we need to focus on cutting the main sources of waste as well as focusing on increasing recycling rates of the main waste streams.
As nappies make up a smaller proportion of household waste than dry recyclables or food waste the London Waste and Recycling Board (LWARB), who act in conformity with my Strategy, are focusing on waste reduction and the recycling of core materials. LWARB and the GLA have, however, in their discussions with boroughs on their Reduction and Recycling Plans (RRPs) encouraged them to reduce nappy waste by including actions on reusable nappies in their RRPs. Twelve boroughs have included a commitment to promoting guidance on the use of reusable nappies in their RRPs. This includes offering vouchers of up to £54 to spend on reusable nappies, or redeem against nappy laundering services, and promotion of real nappies through campaigns and nappy events (including online events during this year). I have asked officers at the GLA and LWARB to again draw attention to the use of incentives, education campaigns (such as for parents and carers) and partnerships (such as with key stakeholders such as midwives and health visitors) as a way to increase reduction and recycling rates of reusables.
LWARB’s Resource Londonprogramme supports London’s waste authorities to reduce waste and increase recycling. This includes using social media to promote borough reusable nappy networks, voucher schemes and events such as Real Nappy Week. In addition, through their Advance London programme, I have supported a number of businesses to develop reusable and recyclable products, or technologies, which address the nappies, wipes and sanitary product waste streams.

Education on reusable nappies and period products

Caroline Russell: What steps have you taken to educate parents and carers about the environmental and economic benefits of using reusable nappies and period products, as outlined in the London Assembly Environment Committee report, Single-use plastic: unflushables, published in August 2018?

The Mayor: I am working with boroughs to promote all waste reduction and as part of my London Environment Strategy, my officers have worked with all boroughs to ensure they have produced a Reduction and Recycling Plan (RRP). These demonstrate how boroughs are working to reduce waste and make an effective contribution to my London-wide recycling targets. Twelve boroughs have included a commitment to promoting the use of real nappies. This includes offering vouchers of up to £54 to spend on reusable nappies, or redeem against nappy laundering services, and promotion of real nappies through campaigns and nappy events (including online events during this year). These are offered through partnerships with Real Nappies for London, the Washable Nappy Company, and through borough’s own schemes. I have asked officers at the GLA and LWARB to again draw attention to the use of incentives, education campaigns (such as for parents and carers) and partnerships (such as with key stakeholders such as midwives and health visitors) as a way to increase reduction and recycling rates of reusables.
The London Waste and Recycling Board (LWARB)’s Resource London programmeuses social media to promote borough reusable nappy networks, voucher schemes and events such as Real Nappy Week. In addition, through my Better Futures programme and LWARB’s Advance London project, I have supported eight businesses to develop reusable and recyclable products, or technologies, which address the nappies, wipes and sanitary product waste streams. This includes Nappy Zap, Gcycle and Turn and Flow. I would encourage any businesses looking for support in the field of reusables and/or CleanTech to apply to Advance London viahttps://www.advancelondon.org/advisory/apply-now/ or Better Futures via https://www.london.gov.uk/what-we-do/environment/better-futures/about-better-futures

London Plan

Tony Devenish: The World Health Organization has highlighted poorly ventilated indoor spaces may increase the risk of transmission of Covid. Does the latest London Plan deal with improved ventilation? What else can you do on this topic to improve air quality?

The Mayor: I am committed to making air quality in London the best of any major world city, which is why I will continue to take the steps I can to clean up our air as rapidly as possible.
My Intend to Publish London Plan advocates for all new developments to be well ventilated. GG3 Creating a healthy city requires those involved in planning and development to ensure that new buildings are well-insulated and sufficiently ventilated. Policy D6 states that housing developments should avoid single aspect dwellings and maximise the provision of dual aspect dwellings, which in turn can increase natural cross-ventilation.
Improving ventilation is critical to ensure that indoor air pollutants, including mould spores and viruses, are rapidly dispersed. It is equally important to make sure that the air coming in from outside is as clean as possible. This is why Policy SI1 requires all development proposals to be at least Air Quality Neutral and to make provision to address local problems of air quality. In addition, all new major development proposals must submit an Air Quality Assessment to demonstrate design measures that will be implemented to minimise exposure to poor air quality both indoors and outdoors.

Privately owned public spaces and the draft Public London Charter (1)

Siân Berry: The newly published consultation draft of your Public London Charter (https://consult.london.gov.uk/public-london-charter) does not mention facial recognition technology by name, although privacy guidance is included with reference to compliance with the Surveillance Camera Commissioner’s code of practice. Do you agree that facial recognition technology controlled by private companies should not be used in these spaces, and will you consider adding restrictions on facial recognition technology to the final charter?

The Mayor: The draft Public London Charter expects the use of smart and digital technologies to comply with all relevant laws and codes of practice. This includes the strong requirements of GDPR via the Data Protection Act 2018. These closely regulate the collection and use of people’s personal information, with all biometric information falling into a special category with even more protection. In addition, the processing of personal information requires a Data Protection Impact Assessment (DPIA). We are asking for these to be shared with City Hall for publication openly on the London Datastore. This will provide transparency over the handling of all personal data and promote best practice amongst private landholders.